Corporate Payout Policy: The Prevalence of Stock Repurchase Programs and Earnings Per Share

Abstract

The goal of this research is to determine the nature of stock repurchase programs and their susceptibility to manipulation. Through the analysis of five companies known to implement buybacks (Walmart, Pfizer, Boeing, Wells Fargo, Microsoft) in five different industries, for multiple years, the research will include examination of specific variables to attempt to understand the underlying reasons for repurchase programs; what really is taking place when companies buy back their own shares, especially because the motives can vary drastically. As earnings per share is the most widely followed valuation, there is concern that it is not the most accurate for use to compare two (or more) companies when it is susceptible to internal manipulation